Shoulder finishing apparatus



April 14, 1942. 1-, oss 2,279,641

SHOULDER FINISHIENG APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS A ril 14, 1942. L 1-. ROSS SHOULDER FINISHING APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW . w \wRw & R

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ORNEYS W m if Patented Apr. 14, 1942 SHOULDER FINISHING APPARATUS Lester T. Ross, Crestline,,0hio, assignor to The Burch Corporation, Crestline, Ohio, a corporation Application July 14, 1941, Serial No. 402,378 12-01mm. o1; 37-146) This invention relates to shoulder finishing apparatus and, more particularly, to improvements in. shoulder finishing apparatus adapted for use in connection with motor vehicle trucks.

In highway road maintenance, it is well known that work has to be periodically performed on the berms or shoulders along the edges of paved roads ,with a truck which is so positioned with respect in order to maintain the same level with the surface of the paved road. Special machines havebeen designed for removing high spots and filling in low spots along the berm but, the use of apparatus adapted to be mounted on a motor truck vehicle for this purpose has also'been employed, the apparatus which is mounted on trucks being less costly and more rapid in its operation.

The apparatus employed for the purpose of finishing road shoulders usually comprises a scraper blade which extends outwardly over theedge of the roadand is operative toscrape and move materialinwardly toward the edge of the road to fill in thecavities whichusually occur adjacent the edge of the paved road. A second blade is positioned behind the first blade for the purpose of removing highspots on the berm adjacent the edgeof the road and for removing the excess material moved inwardly by the first scraping blade. One of the, disadvantages of apparatus operating in this manner is that the cavities along the edge of the road are filled in with loose material which is likely to be removed by cars passing alo ng the edge of the berm.

A further disadvantage of scraping apparatus which is mounted on a truck is that such apparatus has to be provided with special supports which involves difficult and time consuming installingoperations and disassembling operations when it is desired to use the truck forpurposes other than for finishing road shoulders.

ports by which the apparatus is secured to the truck have to be specially designed in order to provide the desired strength and rigidity for road finishing apparatus. Moreover, such apparatus must be provided with mechanism for raising and lowering the same from operative to inoperative positions. By reason of the problems encountered, the apparatus when in operative position extends outwardly from the side of the truck a considerable distance and when being used for a scraping operation, it is necessary that the truck take up a larger portion of the road than is desired, in order that the scraping apparatus be properly positioned with respect to the berm of the road. I

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide shoulder finishing apparatus for use to the wheels of the truck that the wheels'may be employed for compacting the dirt moved into cavities along the edge of the road before the 1 leveling action takes place.

A further object is toprovide a novel form of mounting or motor truck support for shoulder finishing apparatus which enables the truck to perform a shoulder finishing operation without consuming an undesirably large portion of the surface of the paved road.

A further object is to employ supports used in connection with snow plow apparatus as the support for the shoulder finishing apparatus.

A further object is to provide shoulder finish-' ing apparatus wherein the scraping blade employed for filling the cavities along the edge of the :paved road is positioned forwardly ofthe wheels on one side of'the-motor truck and the blade employed for leveling off the shoulder or bermis positioned rearwardly of the motor vehicle wheels.

Other objects and advantages of 'theinvention will become apparent during the following description. In the drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Thesup- Figure 1 is a plan view of the shoulder finishing apparatus showing the supports therefor and the manner in which the supports are attached to the axles of a motor truck vehicle.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a motor truck vehicle equipped with shoulder finishing apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and showing such apparatus in position for a shoulder finishing operation.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the fin:

I ishingapparatus shown in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a ,diagrammatic'view illustrating the position, of the scraping blades at the front of the vehicle and the manner in which-these blades" operate on the material to position the. same for a compacting action by the wheels of the Vehicle duringforward movement of the vehicle.

The shoulder finishing apparatus of this invention has been designed specially for cooperation with a supporting frame used in connection with another type of apparatus in order to eliminate the difficulties incident to providing special supports for securing the shoulder finishing appara In order to employ a truck" tus toa truck frame. as operating mechanism for a snow plow, subframes are provided which are secured to the axis of a motor truck as a support for the snow plow,

the truck chassis frame not being readily adaptable for use with a snow plow. In constructions of this kind, the snow plow is mounted at the front of the sub-frame and when it is not desired to use the truck for removing snow, the plow is merely removed from the front end of the truck and the sub-frame is left in position secured to the axles of the truck for subsequent use when necessary.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a subframe of the character referred to and is indicated as a whole by the numeral I. This frame is provided as a support for snow plow apparatus and is preferably constructed in accordance with the disclosures of my Patents No. 1,930,862 and No. 2,029,545, reference being made to these patcuts for a detailed showing of the construction of the sub-frame I.

The frame I is adapted to be secured to the axles 2 and 3 of a motor truck 4', the axles 2 and' 3 being respectively provided with wheeled supports 4 and 5.

The sub-frame I comprises side members 6 and 'I' which are rigidly secured to the underside of the axles 2 and 3 by connecting devices 8, the side members 6 and I being further connected together by a bracing member 9rigidly connected to these members and extending diagonally with respect thereto. I

The side members 6 and I extend beyond the front axle 3 and support at their forward end a supporting structure indicated as a whole by the number Ill. The supporting structure I is adapted to carry a snow plow (not shown) and is provided with a pivoted lifting member I I carried by upright supports I2 and I3 mounted on a base member I4 extending transversely of the front ends of the side members 6 and I. A hydraulic lifting cylinder I is provided for raising the pivoted lifting member to raise a snow plow to and from operative and inoperative positions when the same is mounted on the supporting 7 structure I0, aconduit I6 and suitable controls (not shown) being provided for controlling the admission of hydraulic fluid pressure to and from' the hydraulic cylinder I5.

The finishing apparatus of this invention is particularly constructed for use in connection with the sub-frame I and, in order to adapt the subframe I for this purpose, a vertical cylindrical supporting member I! is mounted on the base member I4. The cylindrical member I! is adapted to be telescopically connected with a sleeve I8 integrally secured to a scraper frame I9. A coil spring is positioned intermediate the sleeve I8 and a cap 2| on the top of the cylindrical member I! for resiliently exerting a force tending to maintain the sleeve I8 and frame I9 in a lowered position. The cap 2| also serves as a brace for the cylindrical support I'I, bracing members 22 being rigidly connected to the cap 2| and to a cross member 23 constituting a part of the supporting structure Ill.

The frame I9 extends outwardly from the sleeve I8 as best shown in Figure 1 and, at the lower part thereof, a scraping blade 24 is mounted by means of bolts 25 or other suitable connecting means. The openings 26 through which the bolts 25 extend are preferably slotted to permit of adjustment of the blade 24 with respect to the frame I9. Since the support I I and sleeve I8 provide 'a hinge connection permitting pivotal movement of the frame I9 and scraping blade 24 with respect to the support I I, an adjustable member 21 is provided for holding the frame I9 in afixed position with respect to the support I1. The adjusting member 21 and member 28 are pivotally connected to the side member I of the sub-frame I and a member 29 is pivotally con- 5 nected to the frame I9 and slidably or telescopically receivable in an end of the member 28. The members 28 and 29 are connected together by means of a pin 39 which may be inserted in a selected one of a plurality of openings 3| accord- 10 ing to the angular adjustment to be made. The adjusting member 21 in addition to serving as a means for varying the angular adjustment of the frame I9, also operates to provide a brace for the frame I9 during scraping operations.

The frame I9 is also provided with a deflecting blade 32 whichis hingedly connected thereto by means of a rod 33 which extends through aligned openings formed in parts of the frame IS, the rod 33 permitting vertical movement of the blade 20 32 with respect to the frame I9. The angular position of the deflecting blade or member 32 with nespect to the frame I9 and the scraping blade 24 is controlled by means of the member 34 which has an adjustable connection 35 with the frame 25 I9 to permit an adjustment of the position of the member 32 for different adjustments of the blade 24, the connection 36 of the member 34 with the deflecting member 32 permitting limitedlvertical movement ofthe member 32 with respect to the go frame I9.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the scraping blade 24 and deflecting blade 32 are adapted to:

to a sideof the truck chassis and is positioned adjacent the inner edge of the wheel 5. Since oithe scraping blade 24 in operative positionwillextend forwardly with respect to the vehicle, it-

Will scrape dirt inwardly toward the edge of the road against the plate 32, the plate 32 being designed to ride on the edge of the paved road'and prevent movement of material onto the road. In

this manner, a mound of dirt will be formed ad jacent the edges of the paved road during forward movement of the truck, and this dirt will be compacted by the truck wheels passing thereover.

A blade 31 is provided rearwardly of the truck for effecting a leveling action of the dirt after a compacting action by the wheels of the motor truck. The blade 37 is angularly inclined and 5 extends rearwardly with respect to the truckfor moving excess quantities of dirt away from the road during the leveling action. The blade 3'! is mounted on an arm 38 which is universally 7 connected to the rear of the side members 9 as at 39. A bracing member 49 is secured to the member 39 for connection with the rear of the side member I by the pin 4|. By removing the pin 4|, the member 38 may then be moved about the connection 39 in to an inoperative position 5 against the back 42 of the truck body. The pin 4| permits pivotal movement of the bracing member with respect to the side member I in order that the blade 31 may be raised to an inoperative position. In order that the frame I3 and blade 31 may be lifted to inoperative positions for the purpose of'riding over obstacles along the edge of the road, the pivoted lifting member II is provided with suitable connection to the frame I 9 and the 75 blade 31.

The pivoted member I I is connected to the frame [9 by means of a cable 43 and upon an upward movement being imparted to the member H, the frame I!) will be raised vertically against the action of the spring 20.

The member I l is connected to the member 38 and blade 31 by a cable 44 which is reeved over a pulley 45 and is then passed underneath the truck ov'er pulleys 46 and 41, thence around a pulley block 48 secured to the member 38 and is dead-ended at 49 to the truck body. In this manner, upon upward movement being imparted to the lifting member I l, the pulley block 48 will be raised upwardly to raise the blade 31 to an inoperative position. Upon a downward movement being permitted to the member H, the spring 20 will be operative to resiliently force the frame I9 and blade 32 into engagement with the ground, the force of gravity being effective to move the blade 3! into engagement with the ground.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the foregoing, but it will be noted that the arrangement of the frame IS with respect to one sideofthe truck 4 enables the truck 4 to operate in performing a shoulder finishing operation without consuming an undesirable large amount of paved road space. The arrangement of the frame l9 and the blades 24 and 32 permit the wheels of the truck to ride along the inner edge of the berm to perform their compacting action.

It will also be apparent that the shoulder finishing apparatus of this invention may be readily removed from the truck 4 after'use in shoulder finishing operations. To remove the frame I 9, it

is merely necessary to remove the cap 2! where- 5 upon the frame [9 may be disengaged from the support IT. The connections of the adjustment member 21 and supporting member 38 for the rear blade 31 obviously may be made readily disengageable from the sub-frame I to complete the removal of the shoulder finishing apparatus.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided shoulder finishing apparatus which may be readily used in connection with sub-frames provided on a motor truck for use in scribed, comprising, in combination, a truck havr ing wheels supporting the same for movement along the edge of a paved road, a blade mounted on the truck forwardly of one of said wheels for scraping and moving dirt inwardly with respect to the truck and road upon forward movement of the'truck, said wheel and blade being arranged with respect to each other in such manner that the dirt moved inwardly by said blade will be compacted by said wheel during forward movement of the truck, and a blade mounted on said truck rearwardly of said wheel for moving outwardly with respect to said truck and road excess quantities of dirt left after a compacting action by said wheel.

2. Grading apparatus of the characterv described, comprising, in combination, a truck having wheels supporting the same for movement along the edge of a paved road, a blade mounted on the truck forwardly of one of said wheels for scraping and moving dirt inwardly with respect to the truck and road upon forward movement of the truck, a deflecting blade mounted on said truck for movement alongthe edge of the road and having a deflecting surface spaced from the inner edge of said scraping blade, said surface being substantially parallel to the: edge of the road and adapted .to receive, dirt from said scraping blade and prevent movement thereof into theroad, said wheel being arranged with respect to said blades in such manner that it will traverse the space between: said blades :and compact the dirt moved inwardly by the scraping blade during forward movement of the truck.

3. Grading apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a truck having wheels supporting the same for movement along the edge of a paved'road, a blade mounted on thetruck forwardly of one of said wheels for scraping and moving 'dirt inwardly with respect to the truck and road upon forward movement of the truck, a deflecting blade mounted on said truck for movement'along the edge of the road and having a deflecting surface spaced from the inner edge of said scraping blade, said surface being substantially parallelto the edge of the road and'adapted to receive dirt from said'scraping blade and-prevent movement thereof into the road, said wheel beingarranged with respect tities of dirt remaining after a compacting action by the wheel.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said blades I is provided with separate mounting means permitting vertical movement of the blades with respect to the truck, and

means common to both of said blades for imparting a simultaneous vertical lifting movement thereto.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said blades is provided with separate mounting means permitting vertical movement of the blades with respect to the truck, lifting means for imparting a vertical movement to one of said blades, and cable means connecting the other of said blades to said lifting means for grading unit connected to said support and comprising a frame, a scraping blade mounted on said frame, means telescopically connecting said frame to said support for horizontal swinging and vertical movements with respect thereto,

and spring means cooperating with said support: and frame for resiliently maintaining said scrap-' ing blade in engagement with the ground. I

i '7. Road shoulder and grading apparatus of the class described, comprising, a support, .a grading unit conhecte'd'tosaid support and comprising a a frame, a scrapingblade rigidly secured to said frame, means connecting said frame to said support for horizontal swinging'and vertical move-" ments with respect thereto; spring means cooperating with said frame and said support for resiliently maintaining said scraping blade in en-- gagement with the ground, means for adjusting the horizontal position of said frame andsaid scraping blade with respect to said support, a

deflecting tblade connected to said frame and adapted to occupy a substantially fixed position with respect to said support,and means for ad- J'usting the position of said deflecting'blade with respect to said frame to maintain the position thereof with respect to said support.

7 8. Apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a truck chassis having wheels and axles supporting the same for movement along the ground, a supporting sub-frame secured to said chassis, a supporting member carried by said sub-fram and positioned forwardly of said wheels, and a grading unit carried bysaid supporting member comprising a scraping blade angularly inclined to and extending forwardly'with respect to said truck chassis, the inner end of said scraping blade being positioned outwardly with respect to one of said wheels, and a deflecting blade having a surface occupying a position substantially parallel to said chassis and'positioned inwardly of said wheel, said scraping blade being adapted to scrape dirt and direct the same into the space between said blades during forward movement of said truck chassis for a subsequent compacting action by said wheel.

' 9., Apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a truck chassis having wheels and'axles supporting the same for movement along the ground, a supporting sub-frame secured to said chassis; a supporting member carried by said sub frame and positioned forwardly of said wheels, and a grading unit comprising a rigid frame connected to said supportingmember for horizontal swinging movement with respect thereto, a scraping blade connected to said rigid frame, an adjustable member connected to said rigid frame and said sub-frame for varying the angular positon of said rigid frame and scraping blade and for transmitting forces from said scraping blade to said sub-frame, said scraping blade being normally adapted to occupy a position angularly inclined and extending forwardly with respect to said truck chassis, the inner end of said scraping, blade being positioned outwardly with respect to one of said wheels, and a deflecting blade having a surface occupying a position substantially parallel to said chassis and positioned inwardly of said wheel, said scraping blade being adapted to scrape dirt and direct the same into the space between said blades during forward movement of said truck chassis for a subsequent compacting action by said wheel.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a truck chassis having wheels and axles supporting the same for movement along the ground, a supporting sub-frame secured to said chassis, a supporting member carried by said sub-frame and positioned forwardly of said wheels, and a grading unit comprising a rigid frame connected to said supporting,member for vertical movement with respect thereto, a scraping blade carried by said frame spring means cooperating with said rigid frame and supporting member for resiliently maintaining said scraping blade in engagement with the ground, the inner'end-of said scraping blade being positioned outwardly with respect to one of said wheels, a deflecting blade having a surface occupying a position substantially parallel to said chassis and positioned inwardly of said wheel, and meansconnecting said deflecting blade to said rigid frame for vertical movement relative thereto independent of vertical movement of said rigid frame with respect to said supporting member, said scraping blade being adapted to scrape dirt and directthe same into the space between said blades during forward movement of said truck chassis for a subsequent compacting action by said wheeL' 11. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a truck chassis having wheels and'axles supportingthe same for movement along the ground, a supporting sub-frame secured to said chassis, a supporting member carried by said sub-frame and positioned forwardly of said wheels, and a grading unit comprising a rigid frame connected to said supporting member for horizontal swinging movement with respect thereto, a scraping blade connected to said rigid frame, an adjustable member connected to said rigidframe and said sub-frame for varying the angular position of said rigid frame and scraping blade and for transmitting forces fromsaid scraping blade to said sub-frame, said scraping blade being normally adapted to occupy a position angularly inclined to and extending forwardly with respect to said truck chassis, the inner end of said scraping-blade being positioned outwardly with respect to one of said wheels, and a deflecting blade having a surface occupying a position substantially parallel to said chassis and positioned inwardly of said wheel, adjustable means connecting said deflecting blade to said rigid frame for varying its angular position with respect thereto to maintain the parallel relation-,

ship of said surface for various positions ofsaid scraping blade, said scraping blade being adapted to scrape dirt and direct the same into the space between said blades during forward movement of said truck chassis for a subsequent compacting action by said wheel.

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a truck chassis having wheels and axles supporting thesame for movement along the ground, a supporting sub-frame secured to said chassis, a supporting member carried by said sub-frame and positioned forwardly of said wheels, a grading unit comprising a rigid frame connected to said supporting member for vertical movement with respect thereto, a scraping blade carried by said rigid frame and occupying a position angularly inclined to and extending forwardly with respect to said chassis, the inner end of said scraping blade being positioned outwardly with respect to one of said wheels, a deflecting blade having a surface occupying a position substantially parallel to said chassis and positioned inwardly of said wheel, said scraping blade being adapted to scrape dirt and direct the same into the space between said blades during forward movement of said truck chassis for a subsequent compacting action by said wheel, and a leveling blade mounted on said sub-frame rearwardly of said wheels for moving outwardly with respect to said truck chassis "excess quantities of dirt remaining after a compacting action.

LESTER T. ROSS. 

